Are there any "good sites" for gamblers looking for help? Does that sort of thing exist?

How do you mean "looking for help"?

Buying someone else's picks is really no help, unless you absolutely stink. If the picks were really big time money-makers, the selector would be keeping them to himself and taking all the money out of the pools. You don't see the really big, successful gamblers like Randy Gallo or Dana Parham selling their picks.

There are a number of sites where one can learn and discuss handicapping and wagering theory, in order to get better at making picks for themself. The most popular one I know is the paceadvantage forum, at least for tbreds. It's also run with an iron fist to keep the nonsense down to a dull roar.

Maybe you guys can answer this question for me since the two of you are obviously more schooled in the whole gambling thing that I am.

When people go to these sites, are they purchasing actual picks or just tips on betting in general?

If they are just buying a sheet with some other person's picks, and using those numbers to bet, doesn't that remove the whole idea behind being a handicapper? Isn't the whole idea to handicap the fields yourself and then make your own bet? Or is their a black and white separation between "handicappers" and just plan "bettors."

Buying someone else's picks is really no help, unless you absolutely stink. If the picks were really big time money-makers, the selector would be keeping them to himself and taking all the money out of the pools. You don't see the really big, successful gamblers like Randy Gallo or Dana Parham selling their picks.

There are a number of sites where one can learn and discuss handicapping and wagering theory, in order to get better at making picks for themself. The most popular one I know is the paceadvantage forum, at least for tbreds. It's also run with an iron fist to keep the nonsense down to a dull roar.

This is what I am trying to understand, Terry. I always see people mentioning these sites and I'm not clear on whether or not they are just purchasing someone else's picks or actually get some sort of guidance on stradegies and the such.

Do the people that sell picks benefit from having a ton of other people playing the exact same numbers? Does it effect the pools and such?

Maybe you guys can answer this question for me since the two of you are obviously more schooled in the whole gambling thing that I am.

When people go to these sites, are they purchasing actual picks or just tips on betting in general?

I don't have first hand experience in buying "picks" from many sites, but I understand that at the site in question in this thread, it is just a sheet of paper (email?) with 4 or 5 numpers per race, and it's up to you how to bet them. Other, more long established websites, like BRIS, sell picks and selections, too. The only one I ever bought was "The Wizard" for some "big race" days, and it wasn't all that accurate, but it gives you things to think about. It runs down each race and discuss several horses the guy thinks look good, and why, and you decide what to do - kind of like you see locally in the tbred programs from people like Ron Uchman and Joe Kristufek, et al. But more expensive. I understand from HV on the tbred side that the premium TG numbers/stats sheets also provide selections now (?) but that is a whole handicapping package, not just blind selection numbers.

Quote

If they are just buying a sheet with some other person's picks, and using those numbers to bet, doesn't that remove the whole idea behind being a handicapper? Isn't the whole idea to handicap the fields yourself and then make your own bet?

Yes. That's the general idea for most players, and the reward, of being smarter than the other guy and "doing it yourself".

Quote

Or is their a black and white separation between "handicappers" and just plan "bettors."

There are a lot of guys who are fairly addicted to betting horses, but just stink as handicappers. You see them at the track religiously consulting the selections cut out of the newspaper, or the $2 tip sheets from the program stand. IMHO buying someone else's numbers is for them. They're desperately looking for some way to cut the losses.

Do the people that sell picks benefit from having a ton of other people playing the exact same numbers?

Well, yes ... they sold them the numbers.

Quote

Does it effect the pools and such?

It might, if they only provided one selection, and it was regularly accurate. But when you're selling a list of 4 or 5 numbers per race, it's sort of like those guys who used to frequent the grandstand floor at many racetracks and walk around giving "tips" on horses that were bound to win the next race because the stable was shipping out the next day and needed traveling money ... and then went to the next guy to give a totally different horse! Yet your pick won somehow, you can claim victory, and it doesn't really affect the pools.

The part I didn't understand about that whole trial was they were prosecuting this Secretariat for false defamation of character or something like that, calling them Snake Oil Salesmen, etc. But when they banned Pigland, didn't they admit all their talk about what a big customer he was, and all the money he won, was just a series of lies to try and sell more numbers? In other words, Snake Oil? Seems to me like their judge should have declared a mistrial up front based on groundless charges.

The part I didn't understand about that whole trial was they were prosecuting this Secretariat for false defamation of character or something like that, calling them Snake Oil Salesmen, etc. But when they banned Pigland, didn't they admit all their talk about what a big customer he was, and all the money he won, was just a series of lies to try and sell more numbers? In other words, Snake Oil? Seems to me like their judge should have declared a mistrial up front based on groundless charges.

I always thought you needed character before it was defamed. Watching what went on there and the editing of Secretarials post it just shows me they will stoop to the lowest of levels. I actually copied and pasted Secretarials original post for nothing more than being able to read it before it was deleted or what I figured could possibly be worse. I find it funny that the admin would come on and say it was not edited. Well, I have the original post. Anybody who has seen my posts here, Sphere or LL knows I'm not a trash and bash type. I just like to have fun and throw my 2 cents in on occasion. No reason whatsoever to bash that site but after what I've seen on that site the last few days all I can say is WOW!!!!

I admit read different picks.One very important think I would like to bring up.Their is a big differenct in handicapping and knowing how I will repat how to gamble selections.Beaver Van Pelt at Calexpo is one of the best I have ever seen at both.Their is an owner friend of mine that is an incredable gambler and knowing how to gamble.Another trainer I know is very good at handicapping, like i say apples and oranges.

I admit read different picks.One very important think I would like to bring up.Their is a big differenct in handicapping and knowing how I will repat how to gamble selections.Beaver Van Pelt at Calexpo is one of the best I have ever seen at both.Their is an owner friend of mine that is an incredable gambler and knowing how to gamble.Another trainer I know is very good at handicapping, like i say apples and oranges.

It's all about money management, some great capers have gone broke not being able to control their money~~~~~~~